How to get a new Bundeskanzler

Or: what is the election of a new Bundestag all about?

If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you might have noticed that the upcoming elections are often talked about in terms of choosing the new Chancellor. However, in reality, it's not the Chancellor who's directly elected—it's the new Bundestag. Let's take a step back and break down how the election of the Bundestag works, and how it leads to the election of the Bundeskanzler.

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How is the Bundestag elected?

Stimmzettel Bundestagswahl 2021 — This is what the voting documents looked like in 2021.

In the federal elections, citizens are voting to elect the members of the Bundestag, which is Germany's parliament.

When and How Will the Election Take Place?

The next federal election will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On your ballot, you'll make two votes:

First vote: Select your candidate from your local constituency.
Second vote: Choose a party.

The second vote plays a critical role because it determines the proportion of seats each party gets in the Bundestag.

Is Voting Compulsory?

No, there is no compulsory voting in elections in Germany.

Who is Eligible to Vote?

To vote in the federal election, you must meet these criteria:

Be at least 18 years old on election day.
Have German citizenship.
Have lived in Germany for at least three months. Germans living abroad can also generally vote.
Not be excluded from voting rights.

Which Parties Are Running?

For the 2025 election, 41 parties are eligible to run. Parties that aren't already represented in the Bundestag or lack at least five representatives in a state parliament must gather supporting signatures to qualify.

Only 10 parties are running in all federal states.

Who Can Run for the Bundestag?

To run for a seat in the Bundestag, you must:

Be at least 18 years old on election day.
Have German citizenship.

Additionally, individuals who have been sentenced to at least one year in prison lose their eligibility to run for five years after their release.

Nominations can be submitted by:

A political party (either as individual candidates or as a list of candidates).
Eligible voters (for individual candidates only).

How Many Members Are in the Bundestag?

The Bundestag is one of the largest parliamentary bodies in the world. As of 2024, it has 733 members. After the 2025 election, this number will be reduced to 630 members.

Where Do People Vote?

You will receive a voting notification by post, which will tell you where your designated polling station is. If you can’t make it to the polling station, you can also vote by mail.

What is the “Bundestag”?

The Bundestag is the federal parliament of Germany.

Der Bund means the federation (Germany as a whole).
Der Tag refers to die “Tagung,” another word for assembly.

The Bundestag is elected every four years, and it is the Bundestag that ultimately decides who will become the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler).

How Is the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler) Elected?

The process of electing the Bundeskanzler is laid out in Article 63 of Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz). Here’s how it works:

Proposal by the Federal President: The Federal President nominates a candidate for Chancellor. Legally, the President can propose anyone, but in practice, they typically propose the leader of the largest party or coalition in the Bundestag.
Election by the Bundestag: The Bundestag votes to elect the Chancellor. There is no debate before the vote; it’s a straightforward process. To be elected, a candidate needs an absolute majority of votes from the Bundestag members.
Appointment by the Federal President: Once the Bundestag elects a Chancellor, the Federal President formally appoints the new Chancellor.

What Else Does the Bundestag Do?

Beyond electing the Chancellor, the Bundestag plays a vital role in Germany's political system. Here are some of its key responsibilities:

Making Laws: The Bundestag is primarily responsible for creating and passing laws.
Government Oversight: The Bundestag scrutinizes the government’s work to ensure accountability.
Budget Decisions: The Bundestag approves the federal budget.
Military Deployments: The Bundestag has the power to decide on the deployment of Germany's armed forces (the Bundeswehr) outside the country.

This should give you a clearer idea of how Germany's elections work and how the Bundestag plays a central role in shaping the government. Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming elections!